Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Report: Florida is seeing $522 million in coronavirus-related crop losses

Fresh produce, tomatoes and more, were available for sale by vendors at the 2019 Tomato Feastival at Goodwood Museum and Gardens Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Photo: Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

The crop losses to Florida’s agricultural industry — the state’s second-largest economic driver — have been swift, staggering and devastating.

Total losses throughout the state may already have hit $522.5 million this year. That’s according to a new report produced by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Dining rooms across the United States have gone dark to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The pain is radiating to the thousands of small and large farmers across Florida, who rely on restaurants for most or all of their sales.

“These crop loss figures reported by growers are the tip of the iceberg — without quick access to meaningful federal assistance, many of Florida’s multigenerational agriculture businesses could be sunk,’ said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.

Nicole "Nikki" Fried(Photo: (Photo: For FLORIDA TODAY))

Florida is the nation’s second-largest producer of seasonal specialty crops, including tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, cucumbers and peppers — and these fruits and vegetables are taking the biggest hit.

FDACS’ Florida Seasonal Crop COVID-19 Impact Assessment, based on figures reported by farmers in mid-April show that tomatoes alone may account for an estimated $164 million hit.

At the end of March, tomato growers were left with approximately 29 million pounds of unsold product, which was left either to rot in the fields or packed and unsold. April and March are typically the biggest harvesting months for tomatoes, as farmers across the state begin harvesting about 300 million pounds. Demand has decreased by 84% — meaning only 46 million pounds could be sold this season.

At the beginning of the season, blueberry farmers expected to harvest 24 million pounds but will only harvest about 40% as prices for the fruit continue to plummet due to a decreased demand and the challenge of competing with Mexican imports flooding American markets. Blueberry losses in Florida are estimated at about $50 million.

Green beans alone account for a tenth of the state’s losses. The pandemic has caused prices to crater from around $17 a box down to $7 — a 60% drop.

Cabbage farmers stand to lose $24 million in crop value and pepper farmers $10 million. Cucumber farmers could lose everything — 100% of the 2020 crop may now be plowed under, resulting in a $38 million hit.

The price drop for zucchini and squash is among the highest, with their seasonal peak, unfortunately, coinciding with that of the new coronavirus. Prices have fallen from $28 a box down to $3. Losses are estimated at a combined $34 million.

In the past month, 20 federal lawmakers from Florida and state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried sent letters urging U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to include Florida farmers in federal food purchase and distribution programs so the surplus crops can help feed the hungry and food insecure.

The Department of Agriculture launched a new website last week to help the state’s farmers and ranchers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The new Keep Florida Growing webpage is expected to be a portal to provide food and agriculture-related information.

For agriculture producers, the site features the Florida Farm To You commodities list, where farmers can list their products for buyers, food banks and consumers.

The page also features information on economic assistance, such as SBA loans, USDA assistance and state emergency bridge loans, along with state purchasing programs for agricultural commodities.

For consumers, they can find access to food-related information, including a U-pick farm locator where produce can be found, helping to reduce transportation costs for agriculture producers.

Consumers can also find information on the department’s food assistance programs, including summer food service programs for children during school closures and food assistance locations for low-income families.